How life has changed in Fylde

Fylde's population increased by about 2,500 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 76,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Fylde increased by 3.5%, from just over 73,200 to 75,800.

The addition of just over 2,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Fylde was home to, on average, 3.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Fylde

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Fylde increased by three years, from 44 to 47 years.

This area had the second-highest average age in the North West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 2,300 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 14.0% of people in Fylde are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Fylde by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

Fylde saw the North West's largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

In 2011, just over one in eight (12.8%) people aged 16 and over in Fylde said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 10.8% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 55.5% to 51.1%.

Across the region, Ribble Valley saw the next largest increase in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner (from 9.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011).

During this period, Fylde overtook 12 local authority areas, including Halton and Carlisle, to become the North West local authority area with the 10th-highest percentage of people who had divorced or separated.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Fylde saw the North West's second-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) in Fylde reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.2% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.2% to 1.5%.

Across the region, only St. Helens saw a greater rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care (from 3.0% to 3.7%).

Every local authority area across the North West saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 2.4% to 2.8%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Fylde remained close to 2.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Fylde by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple increased in Fylde, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North West, except Hyndburn and Barrow-in-Furness.

Every local authority area across the North West saw a rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple, as the regional average grew from 7.9% to 9.8%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Fylde

The percentage of Fylde residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 88.9% to 87.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.3%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.3% in 2001. The percentage of Fylde residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 7.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (which remained close to 88.9%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Fylde

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Fylde was among those who said they had no religion, rising 9.2 points.

In 2011, 19.5% of respondents in Fylde gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 10.3% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.3% to 21.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Fylde, 78.6% said they were Christian, compared with 88.3% in 2001. About 0.5% said they were Muslim, compared with 0.3% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Jewish decreased from 0.6% to 0.5%.

In Fylde, 6.3% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.7% in 2001. Across the North West, 6.2% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population that said they had no religion in Fylde increased by 9.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North West and Fylde by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Fylde, but at a slower rate than in Blackpool (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Fylde).

In Fylde, the proportion of private renting increased from 11.9% in 2001 to 17.4% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Blackpool increased from 17.5% to 26.1%.

Across the North West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15.4%.

The rate of social housing in Fylde remained close to 7.5%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 79.3% to 73.5%.

Private renting in Fylde increased by 5.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Fylde, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Fylde residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10.5% to 6.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78.4%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66.7% in 2001. The percentage of Fylde residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.8% to 15.3%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Fylde decreased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Fylde, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Fylde working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 12.0% to 9.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Fylde decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Fylde, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Fylde residents that were unemployed increased from 2.0% to 3.1% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (50.6%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 50.2% in 2001. The percentage of Fylde residents that were self-employed increased from 9.7% to 10.4%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Fylde increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Fylde, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Fylde

In 2011, 97.5% of Fylde residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.6% in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups fell from 94.4% to 90.2%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.1% of people in Fylde said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.7% in 2001. About 1.0% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.5% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group) increased from 0.1% to 0.2%.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in Fylde decreased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Fylde by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Fylde with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.0% to 8.6% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in four (23.4%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 25.3% in 2001. The percentage of households in Fylde without children increased from 66.7% to 68.0%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (which remained close to 10.4%). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

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Area report data

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